Guest guest Posted May 22, 2007 Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 Who Knew Cranberries Had This Effect? Can't brush your teeth at work? Just drink cranberry juice instead. Researchers from the University of Rochester have concluded that cranberry juice may help prevent certain oral health problems, including diseases of the gums and teeth, reports Medical News Today. Cranberry juice does this by preventing Streptococcus mutans bacteria from sticking to teeth. In order for dental plaque to build up on the teeth--the first step toward cavities and gum disease--bacteria has to stick to the teeth. If the bacteria can't adhere, plaque can't develop. Led by Dr. Hyun Koo, the research team evaluated the effectiveness of cranberry juice based on two daily glasses of a beverage that contained 25 percent cranberry juice. That much juice inhibited the bacteria from binding to an artificial tooth in the lab by 67 to 85 percent. Next up? Look for dental floss and toothpaste made with cranberries. Cranberries may be the new health food. Their benefits are so extensive that you might want to make them a regular part of your diet: They prevent urinary tract infections. They prevent most stomach ulcers. Their high level of antioxidants protect the heart from cardiovascular disease. A study from Winona State University showed that low-calorie cranberry juice decreases total blood cholesterol. A study from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth showed that cranberries may reduce the severity of a stroke in its early stages, the point at which the most damage occurs. The antioxidants in cranberries may also help prevent certain types of cancers. While data is preliminary, researchers are interested in cranberries' role in inhibiting the growth of oral, prostate, colon, breast, cervical, lung and leukemia cancer cells, reports Medical News Today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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